Health employees to get pay raises

COLDWATER — After five years with no pay raises, the 68 employees of the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Counties Community Health Agency (CHA) will receive 50 cents more per hour beginning April 1.

The pay scale will go to $10.88 to $34.24 per hour.

"(The committee) wanted to make sure all the staff were recipients of this so it was across the board," health officer Steve Todd explained.

The committee did not want to give a percentage because those at top rates would get more of the limited funds. That committee also declined to create a sixth years' pay grade (the grade is currently topped out at five).

Only Hillsdale County Commissioner Brad Benzing voted against the raises. The measure passed 3-1.

The decision came after a finance committee review and receipt of an outstanding audit. Aaron Stevens of Abraham & Gaffney, CPA said the agency "is very heathy financially" despite revenues falling to the lowest level over the last five years to just over $6 million.

Stevens noted the fund balance reserve was at its highest point in five years when the fiscal year ended Sept. 30. That was at 21.5 percent even though the agency had spent some of the fund balance as revenues fell during the recent economic difficulties.

Stevens said his firm recommended a minimum of 20 percent, which gives any audited entity two months of reserves to cover expenses before it had to generate more revenues.